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Can crop production intensification through irrigation be sustainable? An ex-ante impact study of the south-central coastal zone of Bangladesh
No full textIn Bangladesh’s south-central coastal zone, there is considerable potential to intensify crop production by growing dry winter season ‘Boro’ rice, maize, wheat, pulses and oilseeds using irrigation from southward flowing and predominantly freshwater rivers. However, the impacts of surface water withdrawal for sustained irrigation and its safe operating space remain unclear. We used field measurements and simulation modeling to investigate the effects of irrigation water withdrawal for Boro rice–the most water-consumptive crop–on river water flow and salinity under different climate change and river flow scenarios. Under the baseline conditions, about 250,000 ha could potentially be irrigated with river water that has salinity levels below 2 dS/m. The impact on river water salinity would be minimal, and only between 0.71 to 1.12% of the cropland would shift from the 0–2 dS/m class to higher salinity levels. Similarly, for the moderate climate change scenario (RCP 4.5) that forecasts a sea level rise of 22 cm in 2050, there would be a minor change in water flow and salinity. Only under the extreme climate change scenario (RCP 8.5), resulting in a sea level rise of 43 cm by 2050 and low flow conditions that are exceeded in 90% of the cases, the 2 dS/m isohaline would move landward by 64 to 105 km in March and April for the Tentulia and Buriswar Rivers. This would expose an additional 36.6% of potentially irrigable cropland to salinity levels of 2 to 4 dS/m. However, Boro rice will already be well established by that time and can tolerate greater levels of salinity. We conclude that there is considerable scope to expand irrigated crop production without negatively exposing the cropland and rivers to detrimental salinization levels while preserving the ecosystem services of the rivers
Two-wheel tractor and equipment operation, repair and maintenance manual
No full textThe two-wheel tractor or walking tractor is a single axle (a tractor with one axle), selfpowered and self-propelled tractor, which can pull, and power various farm implements such as a trailer, cultivator or harrow, a plough and planters. The direction of travel and its control for field operation is performed by the operator walking behind it or sitting on a seat of the implement hitched to it.57 page
Supporting Sudan’s entrepreneurs in crisis: Policy insights from micro, small, and medium enterprises
No full text8 page
Agroecological business model diagnostics and upgrading plan for sorghum contract farming in Mbire District, Zimbabwe
No full textThis report synthesizes the processes followed to identify potential agroecology business models, the business model diagnostics, financial and viability analyses conducted, and business support and upgrading for a Sorghum contract farming out-grower scheme in Mbire District in Zimbabwe. Centered on agroecological principles, the report synthesizes findings from the Value Chain Analysis, Business Model Canvas, and Agroecology assessments, alongside a SWOT analysis and lessons from implementation challenges. Key findings from the existing business model revealed partial alignment with agroecological principles, achieving a B-ACT score of 52%, highlighting significant room for improvement in biodiversity, resource efficiency, and social equity. The SWOT analysis underscored strengths like high demand for drought-tolerant sorghum and robust market linkages. However, weaknesses include dependency on rainfed agriculture and limited access to financial and technical resources. Challenges such as climate variability, especially drought, and gaps in participatory governance emerged as critical barriers to success. To address these, there is a need to deepen agroecological integration by promoting crop diversification, organic inputs, and synergies between crop and livestock systems, reducing environmental impact while enhancing resilience; and strengthening farmer capacity through participatory training in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and conservation practices, alongside embedding indigenous knowledge systems. Moreover, financial accessibility should be improved through climate-resilient financial products and market innovations like price stabilization mechanisms. Investments in infrastructure, including irrigation and processing facilities, are vital for reducing climate vulnerabilities and post-harvest losses. By implementing these strategies, the model can transform into a scalable, resilient framework for agroecological and economic progress.19 page
Adoption determinants of wheat production technology packages by smallholder farmers in Horo Guduru Wollega zone, Ethiopia
No full textAgricultural technology adoption intensely improve agricultural production and it is a promising source for smallholder farmers' means of achieving sustained well-being in Ethiopia. However, adoption of multiple wheat production technologies is not well practiced and its overall adoption level is low in the country. Hence, this study is aimed at identifying factors associated with farmers' adoption of wheat production technology packages in the Horo Guduru Wollega zone, Ethiopia. The analysis of the study was based on a survey data collected from a randomly selected 373 sample households and a two-limit Tobit model was used to assess determinants of wheat production technology packages of farm households. The adoption index result of the descriptive model revealed that the adoption intensity of wheat producers' technology package is 57.52%, while the highest adoption was in the highland agro-ecology (59.96%), followed by the midland agro-ecology (58.77%), and the lowest was in the lowland agro-ecology (50.21%). Results show that education level of household head, access to credit, access and purchase of improved seed, livestock owned, farmer's perception wheat yield, farm training received, and annual farm income are positively and significantly associated with the adoption intensity of wheat technology packages while distance from nearest market had negative and significant effect. The results of the study forward that agricultural policymakers, development organizations, and qualified agricultural practitioners should engage in the improvement of wheat production technology adoption rate of which need upgrading farmers' literacy level, strengthening farm-oriented institutions for improving accessibility of agricultural inputs, financial services, training and advisory services for farmers on the application of technology adoption in combinations. Minimizing input market barriers, subsidizing farmers through credit provision, enhancing farmers' skills and valuable insight about the wheat technology packages could improve their adoption rate of wheat production technology packages
Q&A: Methods for estimating genetic gain in sub-Saharan Africa and achieving improved gains
No full textRegular measurement of realized genetic gain allows plant breeders to assess and review the effectiveness of their strategies, allocate resources efficiently, and make informed decisions throughout the breeding process. Realized genetic gain estimation requires separating genetic trends from nongenetic trends using the linear mixed model (LMM) on historical multi-environment trial data. The LMM, accounting for the year effect, experimental designs, and heterogeneous residual variances, estimates best linear unbiased estimators of genotypes and regresses them on their years of origin. An illustrative example of estimating realized genetic gain was provided by analyzing historical data on fresh cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) yield in West Africa (https://github.com/Biometrics-IITA/Estimating-Realized-Genetic-Gain). This approach can serve as a model applicable to other crops and regions. Modernization of breeding programs is necessary to maximize the rate of genetic gain. This can be achieved by adopting genomics to enable faster breeding, accurate selection, and improved traits through genomic selection and gene editing. Tracking operational costs, establishing robust, digitalized data management and analytics systems, and developing effective varietal selection processes based on customer insights are also crucial for success. Capacity building and collaboration of breeding programs and institutions also play a significant role in accelerating genetic gains
Dryland Crops for Climate Change Resilience in Africa
No full textThis document is a sample of ADCIN and DCP partnership achievements in 2023. We present them in sequence as per our theory of change because our work is motivated by a commitment to benefit farmers and consumers – to translate science into improved, resilient livelihoods. Our vision is effective regional crop improvement networks sustainably develop new crop varieties that benefit farmers, consumers, and other value chain actors through proven and innovative impact pathways.4 page
Inadequacy of nutrients in children's diets across seasons along an agricultural intensification gradient in Ethiopia
No full textAlthough the production-to-consumption pathway is widely promoted to improve diet quality in developing world, its contribution to individual diet and nutrient intake remains unclear. We assessed this relationship among 377 children aged 6 to 59 months in three zones characterized by landscape diversity along an agricultural intensification gradient from the state forest of Munesa to the nearby town of Arsi Negele, Ethiopia during the two harvest seasons. A repeated interactive multiple-pass 24-h recall method was used to collect intake data. Usual intake distributions for energy, protein, iron, zinc and vitamin A were estimated using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method and compared with estimated average requirement values to determine the prevalence of inadequate intake. The usual intake of protein, zinc and vitamin A among children were inadequate and further exacerbated by seasonality. The extent of nutrient inadequacy was higher in the diverse landscape ("near to forest" zone) than in the less diverse landscape ("distant to forest" zone). However, the diverse landscape tended to provide a better buffering capacity against seasonal energy and nutrient stress than a less diverse landscape. The age of a child positively predicted usual intakes of energy, protein, iron, zinc and vitamin A along the gradient, while breastfeeding negatively predicted these intakes. Most of the food groups and nutrients consumed were derived from on-farm production, whereas fruits and vegetables were via the market. Thus, introduction of nutrient-dense crops and increasing livestock productivity are vital to enhance consumption of diverse diets and thereby nutrients among children.899–91
Impact of membership of seed-producer cooperatives on commercialisation among smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Ethiopia
No full textLow agricultural commercialisation due to low productivity and a lack of access to and use of improved seeds are common features of smallholders in the Ethiopian highlands. Seed-producer cooperatives (SPCs) were established and strengthened in these highlands to facilitate smallholders’ access to improved seed. Using survey data collected from 425 randomly selected smallholders, a full-information maximum likelihood endogenous switching regression (ESR) model and a propensity score-matching (PSM) technique were employed to estimate the impact of membership of seed-producer cooperatives on the output and input commercialisation of members and non-members. The results show that farm size, availability of extension services, household size, farm income, participation in other farmers’ organisations, access to training, and education of the household head are key factors associated with cooperative membership. The results from the ESR and PSM models are consistent and show that being a member had a positive and statistically significant impact on tef and wheat farmers’ output and input commercialisation. Non-members’ status in output and input commercialisation would have been improved if they had been members of seed-producer cooperatives. The results indicate that joining seed-producer cooperatives has proven to be a beneficial approach for farmers, as it minimises transaction costs and facilitates farmers’ access to input and output markets for tef and wheat crops. The results show that, if farmers were not part of SPCs, the commercialisation of their tef and wheat output would have decreased by 43 and 31 percentage points, respectively. Furthermore, if non-members had joined the seed cooperatives, their tef and wheat output commercialisation levels would have increased by 19.5 and 13.3 percentage points, respectively. The findings imply that governments and development partners should deliver training for SPC members on quality seed production and management in their farm operations and assist SPCs in setting up seed storage facilities and acquiring winnowing machines.54-8
Genomic prediction of synthetic hexaploid wheat upon tetraploid durum and diploid Aegilops parental pools
No full textBread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a globally important food crop, which was domesticated about 8–10,000 years ago. Bread wheat is an allopolyploid, and it evolved from two hybridization events of three species. To widen the genetic base in breeding, bread wheat has been re-synthesized by crossing durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) and goat grass (Aegilops tauschii Coss), leading to so-called synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW). We applied the quantitative genetics tools of “hybrid prediction”—originally developed for the prediction of wheat hybrids generated from different heterotic groups — to a situation of allopolyploidization. Our use-case predicts the phenotypes of SHW for three quantitatively inherited global wheat diseases, namely tan spot (TS), septoria nodorum blotch (SNB), and spot blotch (SB). Our results revealed prediction abilities comparable to studies in ‘traditional’ elite or hybrid wheat. Prediction abilities were highest using a marker model and performing random cross-validation, predicting the performance of untested SHW (0.483 for SB to 0.730 for TS). When testing parents not necessarily used in SHW, combination prediction abilities were slightly lower (0.378 for SB to 0.718 for TS), yet still promising. Despite the limited phenotypic data, our results provide a general example for predictive models targeting an allopolyploidization event and a method that can guide the use of genetic resources available in gene banks